Most Expensive Hotels in the World Revealed

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — So, Sardinia anyone? If you’re a high-end traveler, Sardinia is where it’s at for ultra-expensive hotels. That’s according to Luxury-Hotels.com, a luxury-hotel booking site that ranked the world’s priciest hotels. Turns out Sardinia, Italy, is home to five of the top 11.

Nations notably absent from the list of the world’s most expensive hotels: France, England, the United States and the entire Caribbean.

The world’s most expensive hotel, according to the website, is Le Dune, Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, with an average rate this summer of $2,539 per night for a standard double room.

It’s located in Santa Margherita di Pula, a seaside resort along Sardinia’s southern coast. Le Dune was significantly more expensive than the runners-up, the Royal Mansour in Marrakech, Morocco, and the Hotel Pitrizza in Sardinia’s Porto Cervo. There, average rooms are going for $2,060 and $2,041 per night, respectively, this summer. Only hotels with a minimum of 20 rooms were considered.

The rankings are based on the hotel’s average rates for a standard double room, June to August 2012. The dollar figures reflect the minimum amount a visitor had to spend to stay at a particular hotel.

Sardinia is a Mediterranean island accessed by air and ferry. July and August are the high season, which is likely some of the driving force behind the exceptionally high hotel rates. Consider visiting in May or September for lower prices, fewer crowds and still-lovely weather.